If TikTok had a national anthem, it would probably start with: “Get ready with me…”
One minute you’re just scrolling, and the next you’re knee-deep in a stranger’s morning chaos: hair clipped up like scaffolding, foundation slathered on with the urgency of a painter late for a gallery opening, and a casual overshare about how their ex is now dating their cousin’s roommate. Congratulations, you’ve just been baptized into the GRWM TikTok trend — where skincare meets storytelling, and beauty hacks are served with a side of trauma dump.
What Is GRWM on TikTok and Why Are We Addicted?
GRWM (short for “Get Ready With Me”) is TikTok’s most viral beauty format, racking up 177+ billion views under the hashtag #GRWM. That’s more than the population of the planet… twenty times over. Clearly, humanity would rather watch strangers apply mascara than solve climate change.
But why? Simple: GRWM videos feel like reality TV without the Kardashian budget. They’re messy, unfiltered, and so personal you half-expect the creator to ask you to hold their lip gloss while they rant about their boss.
The Comfort: Therapy Sessions in Concealer
There’s something soothing about watching someone contour while confessing their deepest regrets. It’s oddly therapeutic. Unlike YouTube tutorials with perfect lighting and 10-step cut creases, GRWMs are gloriously imperfect.
- Crooked eyeliner? Relatable.
- A cat tail in the frame? Adorable.
- Crying about Chad while blending blush? Cinema.
It’s the beauty equivalent of comfort food — a little sloppy, but exactly what you need at 2 a.m. when your brain says, “Hey, let’s compare our life choices to strangers on the internet.”
The Cringe: Nosy Neighbors in Pajamas (a.k.a. Us)
Here’s the tea: most of us aren’t watching GRWMs for the beauty routine. We’re watching for the gossip. The smoky eye is bait; the messy dating story is the hook. It’s digital eavesdropping — the internet version of leaning over at Starbucks to hear how the barista’s ex ran off with their roommate.
But lately, the Get Ready With Me TikTok trend is starting to feel suspiciously staged. The “raw authenticity” sometimes looks like a casting tape for a Netflix reality show: perfectly curated backdrops, product placements, and suspiciously tear-free crying.
So, are GRWMs genuine oversharing… or just cleverly disguised ads with a side of fake chaos?
Why We Can’t Stop Watching the GRWM TikTok Trend
Because we’re nosy. Period.
Studies show our brains release dopamine when we anticipate new information — which explains why we’re glued to the next sentence in someone’s overshare while they casually line their lips. GRWMs scratch that itch for connection, even if the connection is one-sided and slightly parasocial.
We’re not just watching people put on eyeliner. We’re watching them piece their lives together in real-time. And honestly, sometimes it’s comforting to know that everyone else is also one bad mascara wand away from a breakdown.
Should We Worry About GRWM TikTok?
Here’s the thing: it’s fine to binge GRWM content (God knows we all do). But we should keep our eyes open. Are you there to pick up a legit skincare tip, or are you being sold a $40 lip gloss wrapped in a relatable breakup story?
And if you’re a creator, remember: perfection doesn’t sell, messiness does. The viral GRWM TikToks aren’t the ones with flawless smoky eyes — they’re the ones where the concealer is smeared mid-rant about a Hinge date gone wrong.
Final Thought: GRWM Forever (Sorry, Haters)
GRWM TikTok videos are chaotic, addictive, and sometimes straight-up cringe. But they’re also comforting in their imperfection. They remind us that behind every flawless Instagram selfie is a human being who once cried into a beauty blender.
So next time you find yourself watching someone apply lip liner at 8 a.m. while trauma-dumping about Chad, remember this: you’re not wasting time. You’re participating in a global therapy session disguised as a beauty trend.
And honestly? Long live the GRWM.